Penn State Sports Magazine
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/83706
LAST WORD TIM OWEN | OWEN.TIM.BWI@ G M A I L . C O M U Opposition research ntil Jesse James' toe-dragging catch in the front corner of the end zone vs. Navy, it seemed as though Penn State's offense was allergic to scoring. The farther the Nittany Lions advanced into scoring territory, especially in the second half, the worse the symptoms be- came. They fumbled, scratched touch- down chances and booted away field goals in losing their first two games of the season. But in a 34-7 victory over the Mid- shipmen, it appeared as if the offense found a treatment, at least for the af- ternoon. In scoring 27 unanswered points, averaging 7 yards per play and establishing Allen Robinson as Matt McGloin's go-to receiver, Penn State showed that the offense is im- proving. But given Navy's personnel shortcomings, it was difficult to de- termine whether Penn State was ac- tually healing or was experiencing temporary relief due to a slight de- fense. With a tricky Big Ten schedule looming on the horizon, the Lions must find a permanent remedy. If they don't, this could be a season for sore, watery eyes. If, however, they continue the offensive improve- ment, especially from McGloin, who has been performing at a career high, and if a running back emerges as a clear No. 1, Penn State could still become a contender in the Big Ten. Though the Lions have the league's worst record through three games, they aren't the only team that's got- ten off to a rocky start. Actually, the entire conference has shown its vul- nerability in a college football envi- ronment in which the Atlantic Coast Conference is strengthening, the Pac- 12 has consistently outperformed the Big Ten, and the Southeastern Con- ference is ever-powerful. Barring an unforeseen undefeated run from Min- nesota and Northwestern, both of which started 3-0, the Big Ten is al- ready out of the national champi- onship picture. Ohio State, also undefeated through the first quarter of the regu- lar season, is ineligible for postsea- son play. So the Buckeyes and Wild- cats are Penn State's only conference opponents without a blemish on their record. (Although California pushed Ohio State to its limit, amassing 512 yards of total offense in week three.) Penn State's other Big Ten foes have shown their flaws, too. Illinois was routed by Arizona State, 45-14. The Hawkeyes lost by a field goal to Iowa State, a week after they barely crawled past Northern Illinois, 18- 17. Purdue has shown an active pass rush, but it fell, 20-17, to a tired Notre Dame squad a week after the Irish played in Ireland. Nebras- ka allowed 653 total yards in its 36- 30 loss to UCLA, and Indiana is, well, Indiana. After sneaking past Indiana State, 24-17, in their open- er, the Hoosiers fell to Ball State, 41-39, in week three. And Wiscon- sin, which was supposed to be the class of the conference, defeated Northern Iowa and Utah State by a whopping seven points, combined. Plus, Oregon State topped the Badg- ers, 10-7. Thus far in the season, life has been rough for the Big Ten Confer- ence, even for some of the teams not on Penn State's schedule. Michigan was blasted by juggernaut Alabama, 41-14, and Michigan State was held without a touchdown in a 20-3 loss to Notre Dame. The league's struggle is also evident in its Rose Bowl record over the past nine years: 1-8. Is the Big Ten slowly falling to a lower tier in a world of power confer- ences as it feeds on its own through- out the grind of the season? Or is this a cycle in which the league is simply waiting for its return to domi- nance? Conference commissioner Jim De- lany said he doesn't "subscribe to cyclical. I subscribe to the best teams win." And this season, the Big Ten doesn't have the best teams. Far from it, actually. "I think the narrative is fair, be- cause it's based on facts," Delany said in a recent interview with USA Today. "We're getting criticized for re- sults on the field. I wish it weren't the case, but I don't criticize the crit- ics, because the facts are the facts. If there was a way to spin it, I would try to spin it." So for Penn State fans, there is still hope for the 2012 season. Though the Nittany Lions won't be playing in the postseason, they can still con- tend for the Leaders Division title, the only championship trophy Penn state is eligible to win, per the NCAA and the conference. "That's good news," coach Bill O'Brien said. Given the current state of the Big Ten – along with recent flashes of promise shown by the Nittany Lion offense – there is a realistic chance Penn State makes a run. But first it has to be sure its scoring allergies are cured. And while the Lions are at it, they need to find a remedy for their opponents' 63 percent third- down success rate in the second half. (It was 86 percent in the first two games.) That is an allergy you don't want to have.